Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Madison, WI
Cooks, Restaurant in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median $38,440 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,156 take-home, or $2,680 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Madison, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,433
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,383
- Medicare (1.45%)$557
- Wisconsin income tax$910
- Take-home pay$32,156
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Madison, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,790 | $14.80 | $26,346 | $2,196 |
| 25th percentile | $34,990 | $16.82 | $29,536 | $2,461 |
| Median (50th) | $38,440 | $18.48 | $32,156 | $2,680 |
| 75th percentile | $44,530 | $21.41 | $36,782 | $3,065 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,090 | $22.64 | $38,726 | $3,227 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,440 buys in Madison, WI
Prices in Madison, WI are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $32,156 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,053 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Madison, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Madison, WI ranks #93 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 93 | Madison, WI | $38,440 | $32,156 | $33,053 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Wisconsin
- La Crosse, WI — $36,260
- Appleton, WI — $36,520
- Green Bay, WI — $36,760
- Oshkosh, WI — $36,500
- Wausau, WI — $36,180
- Eau Claire, WI — $35,780
- Janesville, WI — $35,920
- Milwaukee, WI — $37,180
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Madison, WI?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Madison, WI metro area is $38,440 a year, or about $18.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,990 and $44,530.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Madison, WI?
On the median $38,440 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $32,156 a year ($2,680 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $910 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Madison, WI a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,053 would in a typical U.S. city. Madison, WI ranks #93 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Madison, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Madison, WI is $1,377 a month ($1,600 for two bedrooms) — 51% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,060
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $42,960
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,940
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $36,110
- Dishwasher — $32,750
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,910
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,820
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,640
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,000
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $28,710
- Bartender — $23,210